Same-sex couples who wish to marry in the state of Maryland anticipate a major victory after its legislature passed a bill Thursday that would legalize gay marriage in the state.
The measure is expected to be signed into law after the Senate passed the bill with a 25-22 vote, and comes following a vote of approval from the state’s House of Delegates last week.
Gov. Martin O’Malley has voiced support for the same-sex marriage bill and he is expected to sign the measure into legislation as early as next week.
Despite the initial win for LGBT activists and allies, opponents have promised to overturn Maryland’s same-sex marriage bill by fighting for a referendum in November. Anti-gay groups looking to upend the measure will need at least 55,726 signatures to put a referendum on the ballot.
Last year, the Maryland Senate passed a similar same-sex marriage measure, but it died in the House after lawmakers cited an infringement on religious liberties should the bill have passed into legislation.
Maryland will join eight other states in the legalization of same-sex marriage once Gov. O’Malley signs the bill into law.
